Door construction



Sept. 13, 1932. A. P. BALL noon CONSTRUCTION Filed Dem-8. 19:50

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Se t. 13, 1932. A. P. BALL DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 8, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 flab art? 2233 ATTORNEYS Sept; 13, 1932. A; P. BALL 1,376,589

' DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. s, 1930 s Sheets-Sheet s ATTORNEY-5' Patented Sept. 13, 1932 7 UNITED STATES PATENT orFi-cE ALBERT. 1?. BALL, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO BRIGGS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF DETROIT,-MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN DOOR CONSTRUCTION Application filed December 8, 1930. Serial No. 500,951.

This invention relates generally to vehicle door constructions, and consists of certain novel features of construction, combinations and arrangements of parts, that will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly fill pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a door embodying my invention with parts broken away;

Figure the door;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the outer panel;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the combined glass guide and header;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the 'line 55 of Figure 1; t

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 77 of Figure 1; v

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 88 of Figure 1;

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 2;

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on the line 1010 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawings, A is the inner panel; B is the outer panel; C is the sliding glass, and D is a combined glass guide and header of a door embodying my invention. As shown, the inner panel A extends from top to bottom of the door and has a flat marginal portion 1, and an inwardly depressed or offset central portion 2. The sides 3, i, 5 and 6 respectively of the depressed portion 2 extend transversely of the door at substantially right angles to the fiat marginal portion 1 and form a substantially rectangular frame, while the base 7 of the depressed portion constitutes a connecting web and is in a plane substantially parallel to the marginal portion 1. Preferably the base 7 2 is another perspective view of is provided above the belt line'with a window opening9 and has inwardly projecting open return bent flanges 10, 11, 12 and 13-re spectively forming a beading at the edges of said opening. This base portion 7 is also provided, preferably below the belt, with and has inturned reinforcing flanges atthe edges of said-openings. As shown, the marginal portion 1 is provided above the belt with closed return bent flanges and 21 the inner panel to the lower edge of the windowopening 9 and is provided at opposite sides of said opening with short upstanding portions 22 and 23 respectively. Preferably the outer panel B is secured against the lower offset portion 24 of the inner panel and has marginal flanges 25, 26 and 27 respectively return bent around and secured thereto. Thus the outer panel B and the outer face of the upper marginalportion 1 of the inner panel are substantially flush and form the exterior finish of the door.

In the present construction the inner panel A is reinforced and braced by a sheet 30 of metal and by the strip D that serves as a combined guide and header for the sliding glass panel. As shown, the sheet 30 is secured to the lower portion of the inner panel A, while the strip D is secured to the upper portion of said panel. Preferably the strip D is a continuous channel and is secured to the sides 3, 4i and 5 respectively of the de pressed portion 2 of the panel. Any suitable resilient material such as the strip 31 may beanchored in the channel strip D to. cushion the glass.

' Thus, from the foregoing description it will be apparent that the door is light in weight, is strong and durable and is capable of withstanding severe strains and stresses. Since the door comprises only a very few parts and the'outer panel terminates at the lower edge of the window opening 9 it is also apparent that a material saving in metal has been accomplished.

What I claim as my invention is:

1; In a door, an inner panel having a portion comprising the frame of the door and having'a one-piece intermediate web portion provided with a window opening, said frame being offset at substantially its upper half,

openings 14,15, 16,17, 18 and 19 respectively and an outer panel extending from the lower edge of the inner panel to the lower edge of the window opening therein and secured to said frame portion flush with the upper ofi'set portion.

2. In a door, an integral inner panel stamped from a single sheet of metal having a substantially flat marginal portion a part .of which is relatively offset and a central portion, said central portion being provided at its upper end with a window opening,

and an outer panel extending from the lower end of the inner panel to substantially the lower edge of the window opening and hav-' panel extending from the lower end of the inner panel to the lower edge of the window opening and secured to the offset part of the marginal portion aforesaid so that the outer surfaces of said outer panel and of the marginal portion above said panel are substantially flush and constitute the exterior finish of the door.

l. In a door, an inner panel having a substantially flat marginal portion and an inwardly offset central portion, the base of the offset portion being substantially parallel to'the marginal portion and provided at its upper end with a window opening, said base being also provided with open return bent portions forming a heading about the window opening aforesaid.

5. In a door, an inner panel having a substantially flat marginal portion and an inwardly offset central portion, the base of the central portion being substantially parallel to the marginal portion and provided at 4...: upper end with a window opening, the marginal portion being provided above the lower edge of the window opening with close return bent portions being offset below said return bent portions, and an outer panel extending upwardly from the lower end of the inner panel and terminating at the lower edge of the window opening, said outer panel hav ing relatively short upstanding portions at opposite sides of the window opening and being secured to the offset part of the marginal portion. aforesaid of the inner panel.

6. in a door, astamped one-piece inner panel having a substantially flat marginal portion and an inwardly offset central portion,the central portion being provided at upper end with a window Opening, the mar inal portion above the lower edge of said opening being offset, and astampedone- 

